THE persistent failure to attract industry to Listowel is directly attributable to the inferior condition of the N69 road from Tarbert to Tralee, according to the three North Kerry TDs.
Deputies Jimmy Deenihan, Martin Ferris and Thomas McEllistrim have said they are committed to working together towards upgrading the road network in North Kerry.
The three TDs attended a meeting with National Roads Authority chief Michael Tobin, senior projects manager Sean Davitt and engineering advisor Paul Moran regarding the condition of the N69 road from Tarbert to Tralee.
The strategic importance of the N69 to the economy of North Kerry was emphasised by the three politicians who pointed out that the inferior condition of the road has led to failure to attract industry to Listowel.
The TDs sought an explanation as to why funding that was committed to the N69 for improvement work at Dromin, Listowel was transferred to a road in South Kerry.
Mr Davitt said he hoped increased funding would be provided in 2003 for the road but stressed that there was a major difficulty with the level of funding available for national secondary roads in the county, which represents 13 per cent of the national secondary road network.
